Downtown Shuttle (D-Link) Interlocal Agreement Transportation and Trinity River Project Committee October 26, 2015.

Downtown Shuttle (D-Link)Interlocal Agreement

Transportation and Trinity River Project Committee

October 26, 2015

Today's Action

• Brief Transportation and Trinity River Project Committee (TTRPC) on the one-year extension of the D-Link interlocal funding agreement with DART, City of Dallas and Downtown Dallas, Inc.

• City of Dallas Staff will provide a draft Council Resolution for TTRPC consideration.

2

3

Downtown Shuttle (D-Link) Overview

• D-Link was implemented on November 2013 and was funded through an interlocal agreement which will expire on November 10, 2015.

• DART’s site specific shuttle policy requires partner contributions to assist in funding the annual operating cost.

• Funding partners include:– DART Downtown Dallas Inc.– City of Dallas NCTCOG Grant

Current D-Link Route

• Operates within Downtown Dallas, but also connects with Bishop Arts District in Oak Cliff

• Operates every 15 minutes, Monday through Saturday, from 11AM until 11:30PM

• After 6PM it serves Cedars Station

4

5

D-Link Ridership

• Due to partnership funding, no fare is charged and the vehicles are uniquely branded.

• Ridership peaks during major conventions and summer months.

• D-Link averaged 1,300 daily riders during MegaFest.

• The shuttle service is well received by visitors, businesses and residents.

Weekday D-Link Ridership Automatic Passenger Count Data

Novem

ber

Decem

ber

Januar

y-14

Febru

ary

Mar

chApril

May

June

July

August

Septe

mber

October

Novem

ber

Decem

ber

Januar

y-15

Febru

ary

Mar

chApril

May

June

July

August0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

438

510549

611663

908 920

1,029

930 925978

1,060

866

800 805 792

931

1,0011,0001,0521,042

975

Ave

rag

e W

eekd

ay R

ider

s

Projection

6

Saturday D-Link Ridership Automatic Passenger Count Data

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

671

541

751 759

636

967 959

1,143

1,070

1,007

943

1,019

931885

736

884 870

1,091

871

1,022 1,019

960

Ave

rag

e S

atu

rday

Rid

ers

Projection

7

D-Link Route Change in 2016

• When the Dallas Streetcar is extended to Bishop Arts in 2016, the D-Link routing to Bishop Arts will be removed to prevent duplication with the streetcar.

• Staff will brief DART Board of Directors on preliminary recommendations for the future D-Link downtown routing in late Fall 2015.

• DART Board of Directors will adopt the final routing in 2016 following public meetings and a formal Public Hearing.

8

Electric Bus Grant for 722 D-Link

• DART received a federal grant to purchase 7 electric buses for D-Link.

• Electric buses will arrive in FY17.

• The vehicles will be branded and operate exclusively on D-Link.

9

FutureElectric Buses for D-Link

10

11

Current D-Link Funding Agreement

• City of Dallas contributes $400,000 annually under the current agreement.

• Downtown Dallas, Inc. contributes $306,849 annually under the current agreement.

• City of Dallas and Downtown Dallas, Inc. have expressed an interest in continuing funding for an additional year.

12

Current D-Link Funding Agreement

• A $516,644 Job Access Federal grant was received to provide D-Link connection between Downtown Dallas and Bishop Arts-Methodist area of Oak Cliff.

• This NCTCOG funding will not be available in FY 16.

13

New-D-Link Funding Agreement

• The current cost for D-Link serving Bishop Arts and Downtown Dallas is $1.8 million annually.

• Reimbursements to DART under the proposed one-year agreement:– City of Dallas--$400,000– Downtown Dallas, Inc.-$306,849

• DART will fund the remaining cost.

14